Wedge vise



G. E. PAULSON July 4, 1950 WEDGE VISE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 10, 1947 G. E. PAUL- SON G. g. PAULSON July 4, 195 0 WEDGE VISE I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1947 3mm G. E. PAU LSON 1950 G.'E. PAuLsoN WEDGE VISE' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed "Jam 10,. 1947 N W m w m x W x FIG. 7.

G. PAUL SON Patented July 4, 1950 WEDGE visr.

Gordon E. Paulson, Fairvicw, Pa., assignor to Paul S. Paulson, Rochester, N. Y.

Application January 10, 1947, Serial No. 721,261

I 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in work clamping devices and more particularly to vises and the like.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved vise construction where- 'in the direction of application of force tends to close the ViSe jaws in a direction substantially at right angles to the path of travel of the jaws.

A further object'of the invention resides in the provision of an improved structure accomplishing the application of such force.

An additional object is the provision of an improved vise which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

-With the above and other objects in view my invention consists in the combination, arrangement and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the respective views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention, partly broken away,

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, partly broken away,

Figure 3 is a perspective sectional detail view of a slide with associated jaw, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a fragmental cross sectional view of a jaw and its mounting, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of my invention,

Figure 6 is a fragmental cross sectional view ,takenon the line 66 of Figure 5, and.

Figure '7 is an exaggerated detail cross sectional view of one end of the vise, as taken on the line 'I--'I of Figure 5.

In the drawings, which are merely illustrative of my invention, I disclose the various features thereof. A sturdy frame or upright standard is provided of U-shaped cross-section having the base portion I and oppositely arranged side walls II and I2 with an intervening space I3 between them. The walls II and I2 are formed centrally with the slotted portions I l and I for insertion or introduction of the work therein; whereby end props I6 and I! are provided upon the frame, while upon the upper edges and opposite ends of side walls II, I2 are formed rectangular recesses I8 and :9, respectively, vertical edges of which form stop shoulders 20.

Rectangular blocks 21 and 22 extend across the spac l3 of the frame so that their ends rest upon the bottom edges of the rectangular recesses I8 and I9 respectively, while their outer long edges 25 abut the stop shoulders 20. Upon their long inner edges these blocks are formed with elongated grooves 23. Fasteners 2 1 rigidly secure these blocks upon the frame.

I provide a fork shank 2'6 for a fork having the oppositely arranged and separated arms 28 and 29 and the cross web 2? connecting them. Outer edges 33 of said fork arms are parallel and are formed with integral tenons 30 which are slidably dovetailed into the grooves 23 of the blocks 2!, 22 respectively. The inner edges of these fork arms are wedge-shaped and so incline in opposite directions as at 3! and 52. The ends of the work arms also slidably project into the frame rectangular recesses I9 and I8 which act as guides therefor to allow the fork to slide in a plane at right angles to the length of the frame.

There is a pair of oppositely arranged slides 34 and 35 having outer long edges 36 which incline in the same direction as the inclined edges ill, 32 of the arms of the fork which they abut and having their flat opposite ends slidably guided between adjacent parts of walls l1, it of the frame. These flat end walls of the slides are formed with grooves 37, 38 respectively, while the slides rest upon shoulders 39 of the frame walls, the latter being formed with linear slots 4B in which slide pins 49 are carried by the slides 34 and 35 as a means for guiding the slides.

Associated with the slides are jaws 40 and II having fiat inner edges which abut the similar edges of the slides, but the outer edges of these jaws incline in opposite directions as at 42, 43 to form gripping surfaces. The opposite ends of these jaws also have grooves 31, 38.

The inner edges of the jaws have projecting tongues or tenons 42 which are received in grooves 45 formed in the slides 34, 35, and a looking pin 44 projects removably into both tongue and slide and has its head abutting the slide. Dies 45a extend into grooves 31, 38 of the jaws for movably guiding them, being secured fixedly in place against the frame walls by means of screws 41 tapped into them and into the walls, Normal- 1y, as shown in Figure l, the work clamping jaws project partially into the work receiving slots I4, I5 in space I 3 of the supporting frame.

In Figure 5, I show a modification of my vise invention. A cross bar 50 is secured to oppositely arranged arms 54, 55 of the fork, each of these arms being triangular-shaped tapering to narrow outer ends 59, their hypothenusal inner edges being wedge-shaped and inclining in opposite directions as at 56. The outer edges of these fork arms are parallel, being slidably guided against adjacent flat sides of the blocks 84 and 85 arranged at the opposite ends of the frame and held in fixed position upon the top edges of the frame by pins 81", the endsof these blocks resting on recessed-out top frame edges 31a. The outer straight edges of the fork arms have tenons 58 which are movably mounted in correspondinggrooves formed in the blocks 84, 85, the ends 59 of the fork also resting upon recessed-out top frame edges 81a.

A pair of stout guide blocks 93 are rigidly secured upon seats as of sides H, I2'of the frame: by aid of fastening screws 94, and the guide block have grooves 94a into which project slidably a pair of oppositely arranged tenons 80 formed upon movable jaws '15, It the inner end edges ofwhich are wedge-shaped so as to incline inopposite directions so as to abut the correspondi'ngly inclinededgeafifi'of the arms of the fork;

The outer edges of these jaws incline in. opposing directions, as at 11, 18', with respect to central vertical grooves 19: formed in these jaws. Normally these jaws project partially in the. work receiving slots of the frame. It .will be seen from Figure 6 that pins 88 project downinto blocks 84, 85 with their heads 85?) abutting the top thereof. Pins 83' similarly project down into and from jaws l and 16 withtheir heads. 82 resting upon the tops thereof. A pair of strong coiled springs 9! have one end 'each'secured to one pin 88and have their other ends secured to one pin 83 in the jaw adjacenttopins 88. Normally these springs hold the jaws pressed against the. inclined edges of the arms of the fork. The cross bar 50:. of the fork is formed centrally with a cross out recess 5|, 52, which opens out at 53.0f the. cross bar. Rotatably received into-this cross .cut;,;recess is; the; disk 60 of the forkactuating screw 51 which is threaded into the fixed die .62. whose oppositely arranged base flanges 63 aresecured by screws t lzintop-edge recesses-68 formed upon a frame 651Which isrigidly' connected to frame ii] at right angles thereto laterally. The threads of the screw are designated 6!. At the outer end of screw BI is a cylindrical terminal: in which projects into a socket in a-centerx-piecel'l; in whichris a through hole 15 into which projects adjustably the operating crankhandle rod l2 having the ball ends 14 engaged onstuds 13 at the end thereof. It isunderstoodthat any other means may be employed, other than, mechanical for actuating the fork, 'whether .hydraulic, pneumatic, magnetic, etc,

The device operates as follows: It willbe seen that thejaws are interchangeablei They can easily-be replaced if worn. The work is placed in the space It of the frame, being insertible through side recesses l4, l5 thereof.

The, fork is held against vertical displacement from the frame by its dovetailed connection in the .--bl ocks when. theproper instrumentality is operatedfor actuating the reciprocatory movementof the fork, such-as by taking hold of crank handle, 12.,and turning it to advance the screw $1,121. thrust is imparted to the wedging fork. It

begins to slide towards the frame supporting it, and as it slides the opposite arms thereof move forwardly between blocks and jaws or jaw-carrying slides as the case may be. As this takes place the oppositely inclined wedging edges of the arms of the fork engage slidingly the correspondingly shaped inclined edges of the slides or jaws and thereby urge them forcibly to move towards each other to powerfully clamp or grip. the work from opposite points thereof. These jaws move against the tension of the springs 9|. As the fork is reciprocated so are the jaws, the spring causing the jaws; automatically to retract. Hence the jaws are opened and closed relatively to the work by reciprocating the fork in the manner set forth.

The jaws are effectively actuated concentrically of, the, forkthey advance and retract accordingly as the fork advances or is retracted.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a vise characterized by the fact that the pointof applicatlonof the force utilized to operate thejaws is in a plane at right angles to the.

direction of travel of the work clamping jaws. Itwill also beseen-thatthe operative or clamping thrust of the vise is such that equal and opposite pressure is imposed upon the two movable jaws at-theasametime sothat a minimum of friction is engendered-on the part of the jaw-engaging force applying instrumentality.

I do not intend to confine myself to the exact details of construction disclosed, but will cover and includeall variations falling within the purview of the: appended, claim.

What; I desire to claim and. patent is:

Ina device-asidescriibed, an upright U-shaped frame having a central slot, a pair of props disposed at the opposing ends of the frame and bridging the same, aforkhaving opposing arms havingouten parallel edges slidably dovetailed into said props, and having oppositely inclined inner edges, a.pairyonseparatablei jaws slidably guided in said frame and having oppositely inclined edges-coincidingly engaging the inclined edges of the arms of said fork, pins projecting below said props, pins projectingbelow saidjaws, a spring connectingthepins at each end of the frame and yielding-1y pressing-the jaws against the arms of saidfork, whereby as. said fork is thrust forwardly- .of; 'SfliGJEiAWSQthG: latter are "caused .to: approach.- each; iother, against. the tension of said springs, and as said fork is retracted relatively torsaid jaws the latter are forced by said springstoretract in unison therewith, and means for operating said fork.

GORDON E. PAULSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record' in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 1,331,227. Baines et al. Feb. 17, 1920 1,400,491 Mechling Dec. 13, 1921 1,582,719 Wuerfel Apr.-27, 1926 1,583,554", Hoover- May 4, 1926 2,430,365 Polivka. Nov. 4, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country, Date 616,484 France Oct. 29,1926 

